First-time buyer? Check out ONE Mortgage

Local Housing Heroes honored

Ceremony part of 6th Mass. Housing Institute at Devens

Posted on July 30, 2012

BOSTON, July 30, 2012 --- In an effort to emphasize the importance of local leadership, MHP handed out awards to recognize three Local Housing Heroes at the sixth annual Mass. Housing Institute. The honorees were selected for their leadership and commitment to creating or supporting affordable housing in their community.

2012_HH awardees

Jo-Ann Howe of Sudbury, Don Dickinson of Cape Cod and a representative from the Williamstown Board of Selectmen were on hand to accept their awards from Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein of the state's Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

The award ceremony was part of the two-day intensive workshop known as the Mass. Housing Institute. Held at the Devens Common Center on June 13 and 14, this year's Institute was attended by over 70 people, representing 39 communities. The workshop is designed to provide local housing officials and concerned citizens with basic training to push affordable housing initiatives forward. Top housing experts led sessions on topics such as building community support, finding a good site, understanding housing finance, and using local resources to meet housing goals.

The event was sponsored by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), Citizen's Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Mel King Institute for Community Building, and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association (MA APA).

To receive information about next year's Massachusetts Housing Institute, e-mail MHP's Dina Vargo.